Thinkwing Radio with Mike Honig (@ThinkwingRadio) is now on Wednesdays at 11AM (CT) on KPFT-HD2, Houston’s Community Station. You can also hear the show:
- Live online at KPFT.org (from anywhere in the world!)
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Welcome to Thinkwing Radio with Mike Honig where we discuss local, state, national, and international stories. My co-host and show editor is Andrew Ferguson.
Listen live on the radio, or on the internet from anywhere in the world! Please take a moment to visit Pledge.KPFT.org and choose THINKWING RADIO from the drop-down list when you donate.
For the purposes of this show, I operate on two mottoes:
- An educated electorate is a prerequisite for a democracy.
- You’re entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts.
“There’s a reason why you separate military and police. One fights the enemy of the State. The other serves and protects the People. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the State tend t become the People.” ~ Commander Adama, “Battlestar Galactica” (“WATER”, Season 1 episode 2, at the 28 minute mark.)
POSSIBLE TOPICS: VOTETEXAS.GOV—Voter Information; How easy is it to breathe through a PROPERLY SECURED N95 mask?; Newly redrawn precinct maps bring new representation to Lake Houston area; US Rep. Kevin Brady [R- Woodlands] named 2022 Texan of the Year; Generators can cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. But the industry resists rules to make them safer; School Board Secretary in Connecticut Gets Slugged in the Face by Parent Who Wants the Tomahawks Logo Back; Here’s what ‘insurrection,’ ‘coup’ and ‘sedition’ mean; Coal miners want Joe Manchin to reverse opposition to Build Back Better; The Fed hints at multiple rate hikes in 2022 to combat inflation; More.
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- Make sure you are registered to vote! VoteTexas.GOV – Texas Voter InformationTEXAS SoS VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION (ALL TEXAS COUNTIES) HarrisVotes.com – Countywide Voting Centers, (Election Information Line (713) 755-6965), Harris County Clerk
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- Harris County “Vote-By-Mail’ Application for 2021
- Fort bend County Elections/Voter Registration Machine takes you to the proper link
- GalvestonVotes.org (Galveston County, TX)
- Liberty County Elections (Liberty County, TX)
- Montgomery County (TX) Elections
- Brazoria County (TX) Clerk Election Information
- Waller County (TX) Elections
- Chambers County (TX) Elections
- For personalized, nonpartisan voter guides and information, Consider visiting Vote.ORG. Ballotpedia.com and Texas League of Women Voters are also good places to get election info.
- If you are denied your right to vote any place at any time at any polling place for any reason, ask for (or demand) a provisional ballot rather than lose your vote.
- HarrisVotes.com – Countywide Voting CentersHARRIS COUNTY – IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR VOTING: Do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of these IDs?
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- Fill out a declaration at the polls describing a reasonable impediment to obtaining it, and show a copy or original of one of the following supporting forms of ID:
- A government document that shows your name and an address, including your voter registration certificate
- Current utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- A certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes your identity (which may include a foreign birth document)
- You may vote early by-mail if:You are registered to vote and meet one of the following criteria:
- Away from the county of residence on Election Day and during the early voting period;
- Sick or disabled;
- 65 years of age or older on Election Day; or
- Confined in jail, but eligible to vote.
- Make sure you are registered:
- Ann Harris Bennett, Tax Assessor-Collector & Voter Registrar
- CHECK REGISTRATION STATUS HERE
- CLICK How to register to vote in Texas
- Outside Texas, try Vote.org.
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- BE REGISTERED TO VOTE, and for those of you whoa are eligible, REMEMBER TO FILL OUT AND MAIL YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT APPLICATIONS FOR 2022
- Next Election: January 25, 2022 – Special Election – City of Houston, District G
- Early Voting: January 10 – January 21, 2022
- How easy is it to breath through a PROPERLY SECURED N95 mask?
- Objective assessment of increase in breathing resistance of N95 respirators on human subjects, OCT 2011 (NIH.GOV): From The Abstract: “…The results showed a mean increment of 126 and 122% in inspiratory and expiratory flow resistances, respectively, with the use of N95 respirators. There was also an average reduction of 37% in air exchange volume with the use of N95 respirators. …”
- N95 Masks vs. KN95 Masks: Which Ones Work Best to Protect You Against Covid?; Vaccinations may be going up but don’t drop that mask just yet. Researchers say an N95 mask is still the most effective form of protection as Delta variant and Omicron concerns linger. By Tim Chan | ROLLINGSTONE.COM | December 16, 2021, 1:10PM ET
- Also sometimes referred to as N95 respirators, these masks are not to be confused with KN95 masks, which have a similar name, but are held to entirely different standards. Once reserved for construction, medical or lab jobs, the best N95 masks are now available to the public, with a number of companies pivoting to manufacturing and selling N95 masks for sale online.
- But how does an N95 mask work, and how is it different from a KN95 mask? And is an N95 mask effective against Covid and Omicron? We break down what you need to know, plus review some of the best N95 and KN95 masks we’ve tested, that you can buy online.
- Both N95 masks and KN95 masks are made from multiple layers of synthetic material (typically a polypropylene plastic polymer) and are designed to be worn over the mouth and nose. Straps behind your ear help to hold the mask in place. Both masks must filter out and capture 95 percent of tiny 0.3 micron particles in the air (hence the “95” in the names).
- “N95 masks offer protection against particles as small as 0.3 microns in size, and while the coronavirus itself is around 0.1 microns in size, it’s usually attached to something larger, such as droplets that are generated by everyday activities like breathing and talking,” explains Shaz Amin …
- But how are N95 masks different from KN95 masks? The main difference lies in how the masks are certified. “In general,” says Sean Kelly… “N95 is the U.S. standard, and the KN95 is the China standard.” Because of this, only N95 masks are approved for health-care use in the United States, even though KN95 masks have many of the same protective properties.
- N95 masks must pass a rigorous inspection and certification process from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is part of the CDC. Companies making KN95 masks, meanwhile, can seek approval from the FDA, through an emergency authorization for a foreign certification which meets the 95 percent filtration requirement. The FDA says the manufacturer of KN95 masks must also provide documentation that the masks and materials used are authentic.
- According to Kelly, whose company was among those tapped by Connecticut lawmakers to provide personal protective equipment to frontline workers in the state, certification of KN95 masks include a requirement on “fit testing,” which tests the air inside and outside of the mask, as well as how the mask fits around your face. The N95 masks do not have these requirements to meet their standard.
- Still, he says, “N95 mask requirements are a bit more stringent regarding the pressure drop in the mask during breathing in, which makes the N95 more breathable than most KN95 masks. The N95 masks have similar requirements for exhaling. These requirements,” Kelly says, “make the N95 mask a bit more advanced with the overall breathability for users.”
- Keep in mind, the certifications mentioned above only refer to the country in which the standards and regulations were created, not where the masks are made. Most N95 masks are still made in China. Similarly, the CDC has authorized the use of KN95 masks as a suitable alternative to N95 masks for its response to Covid-19 and the new Omicron variant.
- “The KN95 is practically equivalent to N95 in every aspect,” says Amin. “Customers seem to believe that the N95 is superior at blocking airborne particles, but the KN95 is just as good, if not better,” he insists. “Many N95 [masks] are also made in parts of China and Asia so the notion that all N95 are U.S.-created is inaccurate as well.”
- The FDA has released a list of approved KN95 masks here. You can view the CDC list of approved N95 masks here. …
- How to Tell Fake N95 Masks vs. Real N95 Masks: There are some precautionary steps you can take to determine if the masks you are buying are counterfeit. Kelly suggests six things to look out for, which may suggest a “fake” or uncertified N95 mask:
- The NIOSH approval stamp is either missing or spelled wrong on the face of the mask.
- The mask has ear loops instead of headbands (headbands are used for a tighter fit).
- The TC approval number is not listed on the face of the mask or headband.
- The company claims approval for use by children.
- There is a presence of decorative add-ons.
- The manufacturing lot number is not visible on the face of the mask.
- The CDC’s website has more tips on how to spot counterfeit N95 respirators here.
- Additional References:
- The Best Face Masks for Flying, According to Experts, HEALTH.COM | August 17, 2021: Their suggestions for 7 masks using criteria from most breathable to best for small faces.
- Effects of Wearing an N95 Respirator or Cloth Mask Among Adults at Peak Exercise – A Randomized Crossover Trial, JAMA | June 30, 2021
- Newly redrawn precinct maps bring new representation to Lake Houston area; By Jishnu Nair, Wesley Gardner | communityimpact.com | 9:28 AM Dec 20, 2021 CST, Updated 9:28 AM Dec 20, 2021 CST
- [T]he redrawn districts slightly alter congressional representation with more of the Lake Houston area, New Caney, Porter and the southern portion of Montgomery County now included in the 2nd District, covered by U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston.
- At the county level, Harris County commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines in October to approve a redrawn commissioner precinct map that swapped portions of precincts 3 and 4. Harris County Commissioners Tom Ramsey and Jack Cagle—who represent precincts 3 and 4, respectively—each cast dissenting votes against the new map. “I thought [the redrawn map] was a joke,” Cagle said at an Oct. 28 meeting. “In essence, you’re taking everybody that was in Precinct 4, and you crammed them into Precinct 3, and you took everybody that was in Precinct 3, and you crammed them into [Precinct] 4. … Your people of service are all going to be served by strangers, in terms of flipping all of the resources.”
- The redistricting process has already prompted several lawsuits challenging maps drawn both in Harris County and at the state level.
- For the past decade, the Lake Houston area fell within precincts 1, 2 and 4. With the exception of an area near the southern tip of Lake Houston that now falls in Precinct 1, communities west of Lake Houston, including Humble and Kingwood, will now be in Precinct 3.
- The U.S. Constitution states commissioners court precincts should not deviate from 10% more or less than an ideal population size, which for Harris County was 1.18 million. With the new maps, 2.28 million people—or nearly half of the county—moved.
- “The map we passed here today stands in stark contrast to the radical gerrymandering passed in Austin, which was designed … at the expense of fair representation for all Texans,” said Precinct-1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who proposed the approved map.
- [C]ommissioners agreed [on] Nov. 9 to complete the transition by [March 31, 2022]. …
- Cagle and Ramsey joined a lawsuit against Harris County on Nov. 16, which argues [that] the new precinct map violates voters’ right to cast a ballot by forcing constituents in the new Precinct 4 to vote for a new commissioner in 2022 when Cagle’s term is up. Should the lawsuit fail, residents in the new Precinct 3 will not get to vote in a commissioner election for six years.
- “You’ve now taken away the right to vote for [1.3] million people. There’s no greater voter suppression than taking away [a resident’s] vote,” Cagle said.
- The lawsuit asks the Harris County District Court to draw an interim map for the 2022 commissioner elections while also applying for an injunction to block the map from taking effect. …
- [Mark Jones, a Rice University political science professor] said he believes the new maps will be upheld, which he said could lead to a decline in the quality of services provided by each precinct.
- “At least in the short term, you’re likely to have more inefficiencies and a pretty steep learning curve in regard to the maintenance of bridges and roads and the maintenance of public facilities,” Jones said. “I think residents … can expect some disruption in terms of the quality and provisions of services in the area of parks and recreation and bridges and roads.”
- According to Cagle, a court hearing was held Nov. 29 to determine whether a judge would grant a temporary restraining order preventing Harris County from implementing the new map, but the attempt was unsuccessful. An additional hearing on the temporary injunction is slated for Dec. 17—after press time. Cagle said the goal is to get the lawsuit before the Texas Supreme Court by early January.
- As of Tuesday night, there was still no update on t his appeal that I could find.
- TAGS: Lake Houston-Humble-Kingwood Government
- US Rep. Kevin Brady [R- Woodlands] named 2022 Texan of the Year; By Jishnu Nair | COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM | 10:41 AM Dec 21, 2021 CST | Updated 12:18 PM Dec 21, 2021 CST
- S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, was honored with the 2022 Texan of the Year award by the Texas Legislative Conference, a statewide business and policy forum, on Dec. 21. … Brady announced his retirement from the House on April 14 at the Economic Outlook Conference in The Woodlands. …
- Prior to his work in the House, Brady ran The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce.
- MIKE: So, I’m shocked. SHOCKED, that they would give him this award (NOT). There is more in this story about Brady’s district being redrawn etc., so if you’re interested click on my story link or got to CommunityImpact.com.
- Generators can cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. But the industry resists rules to make them safer; Portable generators are among the deadliest consumer products. Two decades after the government identified the danger, and as climate change leads to more power outages, people are left vulnerable by a system that lets the industry regulate itself. by Lexi Churchill, Perla Trevizo and Ren Larson, | THE TEXAS TRIBUNE and PROPUBLICA, and Mike HIXENBAUGH and SUZY KHIMM, NBC NEWS | Dec. 17, 20215 AM Central
- Three days after Hurricane Ida slammed ashore on Aug. 29, leveling homes and knocking out power along the Louisiana coast, Craig Curley Sr. maneuvered through a packed crowd at Home Depot to reach the aisle with portable generators.
- Curley, 50, snagged one of the last units in stock, a 6,250-watt Briggs & Stratton, and drove it to the home of his ex-wife, Demetrice Johnson, in Jefferson Parish.
- He tried one last time to convince Johnson, 54, to take their children to stay with relatives in Houston as officials warned it might take weeks to restore power across the region. But she was adamant: With a generator to power her appliances, she felt safe staying.
- That evening, Curley helped set up the machine in Johnson’s tiny backyard. He fired up the engine and hung around long enough to make sure the air conditioner was blowing cold. He showed his teenage son how to restart it, then headed home.
- “If I’d known what I know now,” Curley said, “I never would have bought that damn thing.”
- By the next morning, his ex-wife and their children, 17-year-old Craig Curley Jr. and 23-year-old Dasjonay Curley, were dead, poisoned by carbon monoxide that, according to fire officials, probably flowed from the generator’s exhaust and into the home through the back door.
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- Portable generators can save lives after major storms by powering medical equipment, heaters and refrigerators when the grid collapses. But desperate residents who rely on the machines to keep their families safe sometimes end up poisoning them instead.
- The devices can emit as much carbon monoxide as 450 cars, according to federal figures. They kill an average of 70 people in the U.S. each year and injure thousands more, making them one of the most dangerous consumer products on the market. …
- At least six people died of carbon monoxide poisoning after Hurricane Ida. All of the deaths, including those of Curley’s family, were connected to generators, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. The machines also killed at least 10 people in February after a massive winter storm knocked out power across Texas, causing more than half of the known carbon monoxide deaths linked to the outage, according to medical examiner investigations and incident reports. And warnings about the threat posed by generators resurfaced this week after tornadoes left hundreds of thousands without power in Kentucky and neighboring states.
- The federal government identified the danger of portable generators more than two decades ago. But regulations that would force companies to reduce generators’ carbon monoxide emissions and make the machines safer have been stymied under a statutory process that empowers manufacturers to regulate themselves, former government officials and consumer advocates say. That has resulted in limited safety upgrades and continued deaths, ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and NBC News found.
- The generator industry has resisted attempts by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to require the devices to emit less carbon monoxide. Instead, the industry proposed a cheaper, voluntary safety upgrade in 2018, suggesting that manufacturers install carbon monoxide sensors that automatically shut engines off when high levels of the colorless, odorless gas are detected in an enclosed space. Three years later, not all manufacturers have adopted the change, and safety advocates say the shut-off switches fall short of what’s needed to protect consumers. …
- The continued danger posed by portable generators is part of a broader failure at every level of government to protect residents from carbon monoxide, a yearlong investigation by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and NBC News has found. Carbon monoxide deaths predictably follow every major storm and power outage, even though they are preventable, experts say. …
- The repeated inaction by Texas lawmakers on legislation that would have required CO detectors in homes contributed, in February, to what experts called the worst carbon monoxide poisoning disaster in recent U.S. history. More than 1,400 people were treated in hospitals and at least 17 died across the state after being poisoned by the gas. …
- Generator industry officials dispute the notion that their products are dangerous, particularly when people follow safety guidelines. The machines should only be operated outdoors, at least 20 feet away from homes, with the exhaust pointed away from windows and doors, according to the CPSC. …
- The Consumer Product Safety Commission, created by Congress in 1972, is charged with ensuring the safety of nearly every product Americans use, from coffee makers to fireworks. With an annual budget of $135 million and about 540 federal employees, the agency is tiny compared with many of the multibillion-dollar industries it oversees.
- It’s also hamstrung by restrictions imposed on it 40 years ago under the Reagan administration. The CPSC narrowly survived a bid by anti-regulation Republicans in 1981 to abolish the agency. In a bipartisan compromise, Congress instead amended the Consumer Product Safety Act to require the agency to consider voluntary safety standards — often proposed by the industries the agency regulates — before imposing federal rules. …
- In 2012, the CPSC scored a breakthrough, when engineers the agency had contracted at the University of Alabama retrofitted a portable generator with upgraded technology — including a more efficient electronic fuel-injection system — to make a prototype that emitted 90% less carbon monoxide. Industry leaders scoffed, arguing that the upgrades were too expensive and that the prototype wasn’t reliable.
- But then, in 2016, one manufacturer proved that upgraded machines were not out of reach. Techtronic Industries, which makes generators for the Ryobi brand, unveiled a new model that incorporated the University of Alabama’s CO-reduction system. …
- [A]s soon as the CPSC issued a formal notice, an important but not final step toward mandatory safety regulations, generator industry leaders notified the agency that they were working on their own voluntary standards to reduce the risk of CO deaths. Under federal requirements, the commission could not implement its mandatory safety standard until it first studied the effectiveness of the industry’s voluntary proposal — a yearslong process.
- And after President Donald Trump took office in 2017, the industry gained a well-placed ally. Trump nominated Ann Marie Buerkle, the only CPSC commissioner who voted against the mandatory generator safety standard, … as chair of the commission.
- In one of her first actions, ProPublica reported then, Buerkle sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency saying the CPSC did not have the legal authority to make a rule about carbon monoxide emissions and appointed a former industry official to be her general counsel. Buerkle adopted the industry’s perspective, arguing that voluntary standards were “a better way to go.”
- “They are quick to complete,” Buerkle told ProPublica in 2017. “There’s much more efficiency in implementation. And there’s much more buy-in from stakeholders.”
- Reached by email, Buerkle did not comment.
- In the end, under her leadership, the CPSC put the mandatory rule on hold. Two sets of voluntary safety standards were introduced to the portable generator market in 2018. One was drafted by the Portable Generator Manufacturers’ Association, which has spent more than $1 million lobbying the government since 2016, according to federal filings. Under its standard, which is favored by most major generator makers, manufacturers can opt to equip the machines with CO shut-off switches — a less costly fix than overhauling engines to reduce emissions.
- Another, more stringent set of voluntary standards developed by UL, a private product certification company, includes shut-off switches and low-emission engines. Safety advocates say that’s the best approach to prevent deaths, but to date, the only companies to adopt the stricter standard in some models are Echo and Ryobi. Those generators, consumer advocates note, are priced similarly to many brands that haven’t switched to low-CO engines.
- The CPSC has spent the past three years studying whether the voluntary measures are enough to protect generator users. It has set September 2023 as the deadline to release its final analysis. …
- With no uniform standards for the machines, upgrades can come at a premium, sometimes leaving consumers to choose between price and safety. For example, Generac, a leading generator maker, offers multiple versions of its 8,500-watt series. Consumers can buy one with no safety upgrades for $1,069, or pay $110 more for one that comes with a CO shut-off switch and a 25-foot extension cord to make it easier for users to operate the machine a safe distance from their homes. And the most affordable generator models for sale at some major retailers do not come with safety upgrades, placing shoppers on a tight budget at higher risk. …
- In the wake of high-profile generator deaths in their states, some members of Congress have grown tired of waiting.
- Bobby Rush, a Democrat from Illinois, and Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana, have each introduced bills this year to force the CPSC to move forward with a mandatory standard.
- [Democrat] Rush’s bipartisan bill would require the commission to establish an interim generator safety standard within six months that would force manufacturers to both lower CO emissions and equip the devices with shut-off switches, while {Republican] Cassidy’s bill allows for either approach.
- MIKE: So, ignorance kills. Poverty kills. Greed kills. Commercial self-interest kills. It’s basically the same business mentality that makes workers potentially disposable as a cost of doing business; it’s the reason we have OHSA (the Occupational Health and Safety Administration). And the reason that business and Republicans keep trying to hobble OSHA. This article is much longer, and I’ve attempted to hit some of the highlights. I suggest reading it yourself.
- School Board Secretary in Connecticut Gets Slugged in the Face by Parent Who Wants the Tomahawks Logo Back; By Native News Online Staff | NATIVENEWSONLINE.NET | December 15, 2021
- A public comment session before Glastonbury [Conn.] Public Schools board of education meeting grew heated on Tuesday night. At issue was the desire by school alumni who wish to bring back the school’s tomahawks name and logo that was dumped in August 2020 by the school board. The emotions about the issue grew so intense, one enraged parent slugged the school board [secretary] in the face during a 10-minute recess. The angry parent slugged the school board secretary hard enough that he fell to the floor, but was able to get back up on his own.
- As of Wednesday, city police department in Glastonbury, Conn. was still investigating the violent incident.
- The school board voted in August 2020 to terminate the tomahawks logo. The vote came within three of months after George Floyd was murdered by then Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
- The school board chairman said in August 2020 that the school board took the George Floyd killing and the Black Lives Matter movement into consideration when debating to dump the racist logo. Additionally, the National Congress of American Indian contacted the school district to encourage it to get rid of the tomahawks logo. …
- After the school board voted to dump the Glastonbury Tomahawks name, the new name chosen was the Glastonbury Guardians. With the new name, came a knight’s helmet that was designed by a Glastonbury High School student.
- The change has been difficult for Glastonbury community members who circulated a petition to bring back the tomahawks logo.
- Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the school board of education meetings have been held virtually. However, the board of education decided to hold an in-person meeting on Tuesday to allow the community to voice their opinions.
- Because of the violent incident, the school board adjourned its meeting without a vote on the issue. …
- On last night’s Rachel Maddow Show, Rachel gave me a perfect set-up for this next story. In Wisconsin, a very public attempt was made in December in the state capitol by some Republicans to present an alternate slate of Electors for Trump. But this was apparently not an isolated incident. There was at least one other state where this was attempted much more quietly and more semi-officially. And it’s possible there were more. And this may have been part of a wider conspiracy to create confusion when certifying electors in the Senate on January 6th. So … Here’s what ‘insurrection,’ ‘coup’ and ‘sedition’ mean; By Chandelis Duster and Dakin Andone, CNN | Updated 3:29 PM ET, Mon December 13, 2021
- [W]hile a flurry of rioters have … been sentenced to jail time and proceedings continue against other defendants, various words to refer to what took place on January 6 — “insurrection,” “sedition” and “coup” — have been brought up and debated.
- Here’s a breakdown of what those terms mean:
- Insurrection: The words “insurrection” and “insurrectionists” have been widely used by news outlets and others to define the storming of the Capitol building and the rioters involved. According to Merriam-Webster, “insurrection” is the “act of revolting against civil authority or an established government.” Other definitions, like that of the Cambridge Dictionary, specify the act is usually a violent one. Synonyms include “revolt” or “uprising,” according to Merriam-Webster. Insurrection, or rebellion, is a crime under Title 18 of the US Code, punishable by a fine, a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, or both. Being found guilty of insurrection also makes someone ineligible to hold office in the United States. …
- Sedition: “Sedition” is the “incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority,” according to Merriam-Webster. So far, the Justice Department has shied away from charging Capitol riot defendants with sedition and instead has brought more than 100 cases alleging a more specific obstruction crime, which carries that same potential weight of prison time but may be less of a legal gauntlet. Similar to insurrection, the act of sedition is also a crime under the US Code, which characterizes it as two or more people who conspire to overthrow the US government, or “prevent, hinder, or delay the execution” of US law by force. It’s punishable by a fine and up to 20 years in prison. Some elected officials have leveled the accusation of sedition squarely at Trump, including two Democrats: outgoing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Sam Liccardo, mayor of San Jose, California, and a former federal prosecutor. In a January statement, Liccardo said that Trump “should be tried for sedition.” Former Acting US Attorney for the District of Columbia Michael Sherwin, who oversaw the Capitol riot cases until March, previously said that he gave his prosecutors at the time “marching orders” to pursue significant sedition and conspiracy cases related to the attack.
- Coup: A “coup,” shorthand for “coup d’état,” is broadly characterized by Merriam-Webster as a “sudden decisive exercise of force in politics,” but particularly the “violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group.” Some have described the event as a “failed” or “attempted” coup, since apparent efforts to overturn the presidential election have been unsuccessful. … Retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a key witness in the impeachment hearings against Trump, previously told CNN’s Anderson Cooper he thought the events at the Capitol could be categorized as a “failed coup.”
- CLICK HERE FOR HELPFUL EXPLANATORY VIDEO.
- Coal miners want Joe Manchin to reverse opposition to Build Back Better; By Matt Egan, CNN BUSINESS | Updated 6:11 PM ET, Tue December 21, 2021
- Senator Joe Manchin is facing calls from a powerful group close to his heart to reconsider his opposition to the Build Back Better Act: Coal miners.
- A day after the West Virginia Democrat appeared to kill Build Back Better, America’s largest coal mining union put out a statement lauding the legislation’s provisions and pushing Manchin to take a do-over.
- “We are disappointed that the bill will not pass,” Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America, said in the statement on Monday. “We urge Senator Manchin to revisit his opposition to this legislation and work with his colleagues to pass something that will help keep coal miners working, and have a meaningful impact on our members, their families and their communities.”
- The 131-year-old UMWA called out several items that it believes are crucial to its members and communities, including extending the fee paid by coal companies to fund benefits received by victims of black lung.
- “But now that fee will be cut in half, further shifting the burden of paying these benefits away from the coal companies and on to taxpayers,” Roberts said.
- Another benefit in Build Back Better cited by the UMWA: tax incentives to encourage manufacturers to build facilities in coalfields, employing thousands of coal miners who are out of work.
- “Now the potential for those jobs is significantly threatened,” Roberts said.
- Roberts also cited a provision in the legislation that would penalize employers that deny workers their rights to form a union on the job.
- The union said it has a “long and friendly relationship” with Manchin.
- “We remain grateful for his hard work to preserve the pensions and health care of our retirees across the nation, including thousands in West Virginia,” Roberts said. “He has been at our side as we have worked to preserve coal miners’ jobs in a changing energy marketplace and we appreciate that very much.”
- Sam Runyon, Manchin’s communications director, said Tuesday that Manchin “has always been a strong advocate for the UMWA and led legislation to address the black lung excise tax expiration.”
- Manchin announced on Sunday his opposition to Build Back Better, citing concerns about the pandemic, inflation and geopolitical uncertainty. He also pointed to concerns about the legislation in his home state.
- “I have always said, ‘If I can’t go back home and explain it, I can’t vote for it,'” Manchin said. …
- The coal miners union is also strongly pressuring Manchin to act on voting rights.
- “I also want to reiterate our support for the passage of voting rights legislation as soon as possible, and strongly encourage Senator Manchin and every other Senator to be prepared to do whatever it takes to accomplish that,” Roberts, the union president, said in the statement. “Anti-democracy legislators and their allies are working every day to roll back the right to vote in America. Failure by the Senate to stand up to that is unacceptable and a dereliction of their duty to the Constitution.”
- The Fed hints at multiple rate hikes in 2022 to combat inflation; By Anneken Tappe, CNN BUSINESS | Updated 5:10 PM ET, Wed December 15, 2021
- America’s inflation spikes have prompted the Federal Reserve to pick up the pace in normalizing its pandemic-era monetary policy.
- On Wednesday, the central bank said it will wrap up its stimulus program faster than originally announced, and its updated economic projections show multiple interest rate increases in 2022. …
- [T]he Fed is another two meetings away from completing the wind down of the stimulus, Powell told reporters during Wednesday’s press conference. …
- Fed officials now predict the central bank’s benchmark interest rate to rise to 0.9% in 2022, up from the 0.3% expectation from September, signaling additional interest hikes. To investors and market watchers, this suggests there will be three rate hikes next year. … And at this point, potential economic fallout from the spread of the Omicron variant hasn’t yet changed the Fed’s view. … US inflation has still not come down from its highs. Last week’s consumer price inflation report showed prices have risen to a 39-year high over the 12-month period ended in November. (CPI isn’t the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation, though; the price index tracking personal consumption expenditure)
- Powell acknowledged that there’s a real risk that the pandemic-era inflation will stick around for longer than initially expected. …
Thinkwing Radio with Mike Honig 